Mu Sheng's intuition was right. Indeed, after resolving the issue with the uniform, he could truly be considered alive in this scenario. For now. Besides Yan Jiao Sheng, there was another equally formidable special NPC whose situation was still unknown. That student council president from his memories, has the insight to see the whole picture, so he might be very difficult to deal with.

System: [Horrific Game Live Streaming System loaded]

Mu Sheng frowned: [I won't do live streaming]

System: [Whether to start live streaming is up to the player's choice]

System: [As compensation, unlike other horror game players, you can watch other players' game screens through this interface]

The system gave a demonstration -

In Mu Sheng's lower left field of vision, without obstructing his view, a monitor screen-like area suddenly appeared. In an instant, the game screens of all players in this scenario were displayed in a grid layout before Mu Sheng's eyes. As if in a monitoring room of a large building, everywhere with a camera could be seen. He could also choose to enlarge any single player's view. This was the viewpoint of a live streaming audience, with options for the streamer's first-person view or a god's eye view. He could even see the live audience's comments.

The system noticed its host's eyes gradually lighting up, with a crystalline luster flowing in the sockets, like two beautiful round black gemstones. Even without detecting emotional fluctuations, it was clear that Mu Sheng really liked this gift.

While familiarizing himself with this feature, Mu Sheng located a few nearby players' streams. This indicated clusters of players who, before classes started, would share any information they had gathered when meeting up. Mu Sheng could eavesdrop on them.

Coincidentally, the few clustered players Mu Sheng located happened to be his classmates. After the series of incidents in the classroom, they unanimously felt there must be useful information to exploit. In the manner of veteran players, they signaled to go out and exchange clues. Although new players were still clumsy, seeing others leaving, they followed suit.

In the discussion, whether players or live comments, "Zhao Mu Sheng" was a frequently appearing term. It was unclear which streamer's comments these were, as there were too many similar ones:

[Please tell my wife Mu Sheng's to come my wedding tomorrow, hoping he can attend as the bride then]

[ Wife Mu Mu!! Teary-eyed wife Mu Mu!! (roaring) (turning into a monkey) (swinging into the campus scenario) (swinging from a lamp) (becoming Mu Sheng's smelly dog husband) (taking wife away)]

[Cry for me, cry louder, don't be ungrateful, or I'll kneel and beg Mu Mu baby]

[When will Mu Mu graduate and leave this scenario, so I can pull up my pants, it's been a bit chilly lately with the temperature drop]

On screen, a player who was very close to Yan Jiao Sheng and Yu Qi Zhi earlier smiled bitterly: "Okay, let's talk about what you've all discovered."

"We don't need to mention Yan Jiao Sheng, as the only club president on campus, he must be significant."

He didn't even directly face Yan Jiao Sheng earlier, just got a bit closer, and his heart is still pounding like it's about to explode.

"Yu Qi Zhi was so calm facing Yan Jiao Sheng, I think he's also not quite right."

"His reaction to stopping that newbie from touching the AC was also weird, it's best to stay cautious and keep a distance from him."

Xiang Shui Dong turned to the reckless newbie who had contacted the AC earlier and frowned: "Sun Zhi Zheng, you were involved, did you notice anything special?"

Sun Zhi Zheng seemed not to have recovered from the shock, staring blankly. Upon hearing the question, he gulped: "I don't know but that AC unit, it really has a problem, it's haunted!"

He became more agitated: "Believe me, that AC has an issue. After I adjusted the temperature, I saw a hand reach out from inside and change it back!"

A pale, skinny hand protruding from the AC's vent. It looked like a dead person's hand, or rather... it was. After all, anything could happen in this scenario, merely a slaughterhouse disguised as an ordinary school.

"There couldn't be... anything inside it, right?"

The situation became somewhat chaotic. Xiang Shui Dong massaged his brow, calming the panicking and near-hysterical Sun Zhi Zheng. This was why he disliked newbies. Not only were they lacking in gathering clues, but more critically, they had this kind of mindset. Acting recklessly out of panic and fear, essentially suicidal.

Xiang Shui Dong said, "That AC unit definitely has a problem, don't be so reckless next time."

The lean man closed his eyes now, his mind filled with the eerie smiles on those NPCs' faces, the vein on his neck throbbing: "How can I stay calm, I've been targeted, aren't I about to die soon?"

Xiang Shui Dong glanced at his watch, classes were about to start soon. In Sun Zhi Zheng's current state, he could not effectively describe what he had just seen.

A cold voice suddenly interrupted the commotion: "Yes, you have indeed been targeted."

It was the handsome silent man who had been calmly listening to their remarks. Although he hadn't spoken, the players all knew this was likely a high-level player. Unlike the others still trying to comfort Sun Zhi Zheng's feelings with consolations like "it might be nothing", he bluntly and coldly laid out the crisis Sun faced, not sparing him at all, as if Sun were already dead.

But it was this callous attitude that actually calmed the flushed and red-eared Sun Zhi Zheng down a bit. He gave the man a fearful look.

"What that class monitor said was important. Others have no right to touch that AC unit - not ordinary players, not even regular NPCs."

"Didn't you notice? This strange class seems casual but responsibilities are very clear - everyone must act within their assigned scope."

"Only the class monitor can touch the AC, and only the study committee and class reps can collect assignments."

The man's cool gaze fell on a female player: "You also tried to collect a stack of homework..."

The female player unconsciously answered: "He...said I'm not authorized, it's his...responsibility."

She had also realized it now, recalling that NPC's strange smile and gaze, her face instantly paling.

"I just wanted to help, get on good terms with these NPCs and see if I could get some clues."

The man was uninterested in her thought process, still calmly analyzing an emerging death rule: "Interfering with others' responsibilities, touching things you're not authorized to, might be a death rule."

Based on their mission. The goal was to survive for five days. The bonus side quest for extra clues was to state ten death rules. Regardless of the mission, understanding the death rules to avoid death was essential.

Xiang Shui Dong found it made sense, but had doubts: "Then why are these two still alive?"

As he asked, he realized: "There must be a trial-and-error cost, accumulating to a certain limit before it triggers."

Two times, or three, in keeping with the horror game style, not too many.

Xiang Shui Dong wondered again: "But earlier that regular NPC touched the AC unit and nothing happened?"

Although he didn't name names, the players present all realised he was referring to Zhao Mu Sheng. They were all deeply impressed by him - whether his looks or the stir he had caused earlier. His eyes were red from crying, but that hint of dishevelment did nothing to diminish his beauty, instead making him look pitifully frail.

"Could he be a special NPC?"

The man paused: "Uncertain, but I suggest you keep your distance from him."

"He touched the AC unit but wasn't warned, possibly because he joined Yan Jiao Sheng's club."

This school, from freshman to senior year, only had one club - the Freedom Club headed by Yan Jiao Sheng as president. According to the players' memories, Yan Jiao Sheng had applied for it out of boredom. Originally the school hadn't planned to have clubs, but they didn't want to offend Yan.

Over time, the Freedom Club became Yan Jiao Sheng's gang in practice, mostly comprised of arrogant scions from powerful families. No matter what they did, neither regular students nor teachers could do anything about them.

"So it's likely that members of this club are exempt from those responsibilities in a sense."

"Similarly, there's also the student council in charge of maintaining order."

Listening to the analysis, Mu Sheng was stunned. He had reached a similar conclusion earlier, but he had gathered quite a bit of information, giving him somewhat of an identity advantage.

His gaze fell on the tall figure of the man on screen. The man's eyes still showed no emotion, neither smug nor wary. His livestream chat was also very active, suggesting he was an extremely popular player. The name was Shen Feng Yu.

Mu Sheng committed this face and name to memory.

Xiang Shui Dong also had a realization: "You mean those students in white uniforms? I remember Yan Jiao Sheng and the student council president were at odds. The Freedom Club's establishment was largely due to that power struggle, which could be an entry point."

"Since Yu Qi Zhi isn't part of the club or student council, his calm demeanor earlier is quite suspicious." (Sorry just realized that yqz is class monitor)

Shen Feng Yu neither confirmed nor denied it.

Xiang Shui Dong still couldn't help but ask: "But what about that Zhao Mu Sheng...what's the deal with him?"

His personality and identity were clearly typical cannon-fodder NPC material, meant to die and provide players with clues, but...

What he meant was, well.

The image of Zhao Mu Sheng's tearful face suddenly flashed in his mind. For the first time, he realized guys in reality could actually cry that...

Sorrowfully beautiful.

Even as an NPC, he couldn't stop his heart from racing.

Shen Feng Yu's expression grew even colder as he saw Xiang Shui Dong's reddening face. He was about to say something but stopped, frowning as he looked in a certain direction.

His gaze met Mu Sheng's, who was secretly watching them through the system screen.

Mu Sheng looked into those eyes that seemed almost artificial and indifferent from this angle, as if they could truly see through space to him.

Mu Sheng hesitated: [System, they can't see me over there, right?]

The system gave an affirmative reply.

Shen Feng Yu had already averted his gaze, taking no further action, as if he had just happened to glance this way.

Mu Sheng studied Shen Feng Yu's exceptionally handsome face standing out on the screen, about to say something more, but his attention was drawn to a commotion behind him -

Something had poked him in the back.

Mu Sheng turned around and sure enough, it was Yan Jiao Sheng.

Yan Jiao Sheng had put down his phone now, one hand propping his face, the other holding a pen. His jet-black narrow eyes looked at Mu Sheng, his expression somewhat uncomfortable, arched brows tightly furrowed.

He said, "Still sulking?"

Mu Sheng's slightly damp lashes, misted with moisture, trembled in the owner's confusion.

"I...wasn't sulking."

Who would dare act petulant in front of Yan Jiao Sheng?

Yan Jiao Sheng let out a cold snort.

Looking at Mu Sheng's fair face, his downcast demeanor, he seemed completely devoid of his usual restlessness, exceptionally obedient.

His voice still trembled.

Yan Jiao Sheng suddenly recalled the feeling of touching someone's soft little hand earlier.

And it was a guy's hand.

Yan Jiao Sheng: "Not sulking, then why didn't you come find me proactively?"

Mu Sheng looked up at Yan Jiao Sheng in astonishment, stunned.

It's not like he was so impatient to be around Yan Jiao Sheng when he was angry.

With Zhao Mu Sheng's accommodating personality, of course he wouldn't dare act arrogant in front of Yan Jiao Sheng, obediently answering: "You were angry."

Yan Jiao Sheng clicked his tongue: "My temper's not that bad, is it?"

Mu Sheng unconsciously touched his own neck, flinching.

He still remembered what Yan Jiao Sheng had said earlier.

About finding men disgusting, choking him.

He had spoken quite fiercely too.

Then he just wouldn't like Yan Jiao Sheng anymore.

He shrank his shoulders again.

He was just a hanger-on bound to be discarded; who cared who he liked or didn't like here?

Seeing his shrinking demeanor, Yan Jiao Sheng felt annoyed and angry again for some reason. He changed the subject: "Hey, who gave you that uniform, and what did they say?"

So now he couldn't deal with Zhao Mu Sheng before others?

Mu Sheng could tell from Yan Jiao Sheng's tone that whoever he named would not fare well.

As he was about to speak, a scream came from the doorway.

It was that female player.

Mu Sheng looked puzzled as he turned to see the commotion at the entrance.

Yan Jiao Sheng beat him to it, noticing the chaotic NPCs and players in the doorway. He glanced back at the youth in front of him.

Unless his memory failed him, this Zhao Mu Sheng guy was just an ordinary clueless NPC, right?

How annoying.

Couldn't that rowdy group make noise somewhere further away?

Before Mu Sheng could turn his head, Yan Jiao Sheng's actions forced his attention elsewhere.

This guy suddenly stood up, grabbing Mu Sheng's chair.

Pulling from the backrest, the chair lost balance with the seated Mu Sheng tilting backwards.

He thought he would fall chair and all, but Yan Jiao Sheng effortlessly caught the chair with surprising strength, easily keeping the balance.

Mu Sheng's chest heaved, flushed red from the scare. Even though it was Yan Jiao Sheng, he couldn't help but glare up at him.

Yan Jiao Sheng didn't feel offended, in fact his heart skipped a beat from being glared at.